One of the world’s most iconic nameplates, the Toyota Supra, has just made its world debut at the 88th Geneva Motor Show, albeit in racing concept form. There’s not much to go about in terms of its hardware, but Toyota engineer Tetsuya Tada (the man behind the Supra and 86) said “a Supra without an inline-six is no Supra.”
During a roundtable session with the press, Tada told Autoblog that the Supra will in fact get a turbocharged straight-six, and that it would be relatively easy to tune. Unfortunately, there won’t be a manual version available, because according to Tada, Supra fans don’t think it’s a huge requirement. Let’s just agree to disagree with him on that, for now.
As for the six potter unit, it will most likely be a BMW engine (it’s no secret that Toyota and BMW have been co-developing the Supra/Z4), but no figures have been revealed thus far. Since a manual gearbox is off the table, expect some variant of the ZF eight-speed automatic or possibly a dual-clutch transmission to be featured instead.
Tada also told the publication that the Supra won’t get a transaxle, but it will have perfect 50:50 weight distribution and a centre of gravity that’s lower than the 86. Exactly how this is achieved is beyond us, considering that the Supra comes with a bigger, taller and longer engine as well as a shorter wheelbase. Needless to say, it’s only a matter of time before all is revealed.
For Supra fans, don’t expect supercar-beating performance from the new model. Tada said he wants the Supra to be like the 86 – fun to drive and easy to manoeuvre, while not focused solely on brute power. So, what’s your take on this, guys? Let us know in the comments section below.
GALLERY: Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept
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Let computers decide when to change transmission. You’ll get faster acceleration
if like that better play computer games then
A 125cc gokart has no gearbox, still massive fun.
Not. Fun. At all
Nice !!! so the 3 JDM king is back.GT-R, NSX and now Supra.
No manual? Wheres the fun in it?
Under 500hp is ideal for the Supra. Fast enough to get sub-4 second 0-60 times and 190 mph top speed whilst maintaining driveability and handling.
I think this guy behind the Supra development has tons of restriction from the top management. Probably being pushed to produce the best sport car ever but with limited budget. Hence he coined the idea of 86 approach which basically low powered car with good handling. This is way easier and economical than producing Godzilla power with good handling.
Previous Supra was a Godzilla matching power car with a rear wheel drive befitting a Grand Tourer that it was designed for. This new Supra has none of that iconic characters and sounds more like an upscale MX5.
“Previous Supra was a Godzilla matching”. thats not accurate. stock standard it made around 300 bhp. unless you made massive modifications to it.
just call it a ALL New 86 then…leave the supra name alone pls..
I completely agree on Tada’s remark on Inline-Sixes, exquisite smooth to none Engine Harmonic Imbalances, easy tune in terms of mech while most of all the engine design which the notable Legendary Supra uses. The absense of manual knob shifters are disappointing since the key issues are dual clutch rivals the efficiency in future of automotive and hope there is paddleshifters to accommodate. he mentioned on 86 is another mechanical controversial of vehicle characteristic which I think he wants it to be fun but killing the nature of Supra until one Lunatic Monkey Pump ubah-suai steroids into it. Other than that the inline6 is a great headstart for the Nissan, Honda(v6) to slowly recognize what the market really needs and (fingers crossed) to revive and relieve the 80-90s Street Legends heck even mercedes is going back to them L6 engines.
The 2speed or 3speed 125cc gokart wayyy more fun than the single speed version…